Vibrator mixer



- March 3, 1959 H. A. TOULMIN, JR 2,875,989

VIBRATOR MIXER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1956 INVENTOR HARRYAuTOULM/N, Jn

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ATTORNEYS March 3, 1959 H. A. TOULMlN, JR

VIBRATOR MIXER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1956 INVENTOR HARRY A.TOULM/N, Jr

ATTORNEYS United VIBRATDR MIXER J12, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The HarryA. Toulmin,

Company of Ohio, Day- Comrnonwealth Engineering ton, Ohio ApplicationApril 26, 1956, Serial No. 580,905 7 Claims. (Cl. 259--72) apparatus formixing liquids by utilizing vibrations induced by oscillatory movementsof a mass.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved methodof mixing liquids or solids and liquids which cannot be readily mixed bythe gyratory movement of conventional mixers.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent uponreference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction withthe following drawings wherein:

Figure l is an overall perspective view of the vibrator mixer of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the solenoidillustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit employed tovibrate the armature of the coil illustrated at Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a control solenoid used tocontrol the vibratory movements of the solenoid illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an overall perspective view of a modified vibrator mixer;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the solenoid illustrated in thesectional view of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a second modification of thevibrator mixer of this invention.

The vibrator mixer of this invention essentially comprises a resilientlymounted receptacle for containing a body of liquid and a solenoid havinga core armature spaced from the body of liquid. Means are provided tovibrate the armature at a high frequency. An agent is then employed totransmit the oscillatory movements of the armature to the receptacle orthe body of liquid in order to vibrate the body of liquid and tointermix the same.

This invention discloses several modifications of a vibrator mixerconstructed in accordance with the above principles and each of thesemodifications will be discussed in turn.

Turning now to the drawings, more particularly to Figure 1 wherein likereference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the various views,1 indicates generally the vibrator mixer constructed in accordance withthis invention. The vibrator mixer 1 comprises a base 2 which has aninternal flange 3 in the top wall thereof. The internal flange 3 definesan opening 4 having a pad 2 5' around the rim thereof. The base 2 ismounted upon a resilient cushion or pad 6.

Within the base, as may be seen in Figure 2, is a horizontal wall 7which has a centrally located opening 8. A bearing 9 is mounted withinthe opening 8.

The apparatus for producing vibrations is mounted within the base belowthe horizontal wall 7. The vibrator apparatus comprises a centrallylocated solenoid 10, a control solenoid 11, and a control switch 12.

The centrally located solenoid 10 is illustrated on an enlarged scale inFigure 3 and comprises a coil winding 13 enclosed within a housing 14which has a central passage 15. Reciprocably mounted in the passage 15is a core armature 16 which is normally biased by a spring 17 in such aposition that one end of the armature indicated at 18 normally protrudesabove the upper surface of the horizontal wall 7.

A movable plate 19 is in engagement with the upper end 18 of thearmature 16. The plate 19 is biased into engagement with the armature bya plurality of springs 20 which are interposed between the internalflange 3 and the plate 19 in the manner as shown in Figure 2.

The movable plate 19 forms a support for receptacles containing theliquid which is to be mixed by the vibrator mixer.

The control solenoid 11 and its cooperating contacts is illustrated on alarger scale in Figure 4. The control solenoid 11 comprises a housing 21which is suspended from the lower face of the horiiontal wall 7. Thesolenoid comprises a coil winding 22 about a core 23. The core 23attracts a pivotally mounted armature 24 which has a movable contact 25mounted on the extreme end thereof and a second movable contact 26intermediately mounted.

There is a rectifier 27 mounted in the housing 21 for convertingalternating current into direct current for use in the solenoids 10 and11.

The control solenoid 11 and the vibrating solenoid 10 are so connectedin an electrical circuit as to produce the oscillating movements of thearmature 16 and the vibrating solenoid 10. The circuitry by which thevibratory movement is accomplished will be presently described.

The coil 13 and the vibratory solenoid 10 is connected across a sourceof direct current which is obtained from the rectifier 27. The controlswitch 12 is connected in series with the coil 13. The coil winding 22of the control solenoid 11 is connected across the vibratory solenoid 10between the solenoid 10 and the control switch 12. One end of the coilwinding 13 is connected to a stationary contact 28 which is adapted forelectrical engagement with the movable contact 25 on the end of thepivotally mounted armature 24. The opening of the contacts 25 and 28will disconnect the coil of the solenoid 10 from the source ofelectrical energy.

One end of the coil 22 of the control solenoid 11 is connected to astationary contact 29 which is adapted for electrical engagement withthe movable contact 26 on the intermediate portion of the pivotallymounted armature 24. The closing of the contacts 26 and 29 will connectthe control solenoid with the source of direct current.

The liquids which are to be mixed are indicated at 30 and are containedwithin a receptacle 31 positioned upon the movable plate 19.

A wide variety of liquids may be readily intermixed by the mixer of thisinvention. However, the advantages, of this vibrator mixer lends itselfto several particular,- situations.

In the mixing of cream by an ordinary gyratory mixer such as may befound in most homes, prolonged mixing will result in the cream turningto butter. However, when the same cream is mixed by the vibrator mixer;of:

solenoid this invention the danger of the cream turning into butter isconsiderably reduced.

In addition, relatively immiscible liquids, such as oil and water, maybe readily mixed by this vibratory mixer. It is well known'that repeatedstirring of oil and water in a gyratory movement will not cause them toreadily intermix. However, it has been found that when a liquid bodycomprising oil and water is subjected to vibrations of small amplitudeover a high frequency the oil and water will be intermixed.

The vibrator mixer of this invention is also readily adapted to mixdelicate ingredients such as cooked vegetables, and the like, in aliquid, such as cold soup. The stirring or gyratory mixing of such amixture will result in damage to the delicate cooked vegetables.However, the imparting of vibrations to this mixture will result in athorough intermixing of the liquid without any damage to the delicateingredients therein.

The above three situations are exemplary only, and

the vibratory mixer of this invention is susceptible of many additionaluses. In the operation of the mixer illustrated in Figures 1 through 5,the oscillatory movements of the armature are transmitted through theresiliently mounted movable plate to the receptacle containing theliquid to be mixed. The armature 16 is vibrated by the followingoperation of the circuit illustrated in Figure 5 and is described above.The closing of the switch 12 will result in the energization of thecontrol solenoid 11 and the armature 24 will move upwardly. When thepivotally mounted armature 24 is attracted upwardly, the contacts 26 and29 are opened and the contacts 25 and 28 are closed. The closing of thecontacts 25 and 28 will connect the across the source of direct currentand the armature 16 will be energized to move into the coil 13. Thecontacts 26 and 29 are opened immediately when the armature 24 isattracted to the control solenoid. This opening of the contacts 26 and29 will instantly deenergize the solenoid 11. Consequently, the pivotedarmature 24 will return to its position as shown in Figure 5 and thesolenoid 10 will become deenergized and will cause the armature 16 to bemoved upwardly by the spring 17. This completes the cycle and'thesubsequent energization of the control solenoid 11 will begin the cycleof reciprocating the core armature 16.

Proceeding next to Figure 6, there is illustrated there in amodification of the vibratory mixer of this invention as indicated at32. As may be seen in Figure 7, the mixer 32 comprises a base 33 whichhas a vertical annular wall 34 upstanding from a horizontal wall 35supported upon a pedestal 36. A cushion 37 of resilient mtaerial such asfoam rubber or the like is secured on the top surface of the annularwall 34.

The vibratory solenoid indicated at 38 is mounted to the lower surfaceof the horizontal wall 35. The solenoid 38 comprises a cup-shapedhousing 39 having a closure plate 40 which is substantially flush withthe upper surface of the horizontal wall 35. Within the housing 39 is acoil winding 41 which surrounds a core armature 42. The core armature 42has one end 43 protruding from the coil winding 41. The armature end 43is connected to the closure plate 40.

The solenoid 38 is connected through a control switch 44 to a source ofhigh-frequency alternating current, not shown. The frequency of thealternating current should be of the order of 25,000 cycles per second.

A receptacle 45 containing a body of liquid to be mixed, indicated at46, is resiliently mounted upon the base 33 by an external flange 47which has an annular groove 48 therein. The annular groove 48 closelyreceives the cushion 37 on the base. By examining Figure 7, itv can beseen that the bottom of the receptacle is spaced above the top surfaceof the horizontal wall 35. This space defines a chamber indicated at 49which may 4 be filled with a compressible gas, such as air, or with aliquid, such as hydraulic fluid.

In the operation of this modification, energization of the coil 41 willresult in the oscillatory movement of the coil armature 42. The movementof the core armature is of the order of 0.001 inch, but the frequency ofmovement of the armature corresponds to the frequency of the source ofalternating current. The oscillatory movements of the core armature aretransmitted to the receptacle through the medium in the chamber 49.Consequently, vibrations will be induced in the body of liquid and theliquid will be readily intermixed.

In Figure 9 is illustrated another modification of the vibrator mixer ofthis invention. The modification of Figure 9 is indicated generally at50 and comprises a receptacle 51 containing the body of liquid 52 whichis to be mixed. The open top end of the receptacle is closed by aclosure plate 53 upon which is mounted a solenoid 54 which is connectedto a source of high-frequency alternating current. The solenoid 54 issimilar to the solenoid 38 illustrated in Figure 8 and need not befurther described.

The solenoid 54 is modified, however, by a nickel rod 55 extending fromthe core armature into the liquid as shown in Figure 9. A spherical mass56 is secured to the free end of the nickel rod 55'.

In this vibratory mixer oscillatory movements of the core armature aretransmitted directly into the liquid through the nickel rod 55 and thespherical mass 56. The vibrations induced into the body of liquidresults in readily intermixing the component liquids of the liquid body.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention describes a novel andimproved form of a vibrator mixer which utilizes the oscillatorymovements of a core and a solenoid which is spaced from the body ofliquid which is to be mixed. Since the amplitude of the vibrationsinduced into the body of liquids are small, but of a high frequency,very little turbulence is induced into the liquid body. The high rate ofvibrations, however, succeeds in completely intermixing the componentliquids.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for mixing liquids, said device comprising a solenoidcomprising a coil mounted on a stationary surface of the device and acore armature, resilient means biased against a second stationarysurface of said device and acting against said armature for returningsaid armature to its norml position, a mass engaging said armature,resilient means biasing said mass towards said armature, and areceptacle containing a body of liquid resting upon said mass wherebythe oscillations of said armature are transmitted through said mass tosaid body of liquid.

2. In a device for mixing liquids, a base having an internal flangeportion in the top wall thereof defining an opening, a solenoid withinsaid base and aligned with said opening, said solenoid comprising a coiland a core armature having an axis of movement directed toward saidopening, resilient means biasing said armature toward said opening,means for energizing said coil to impart oscil latory movement to saidarmature, a mass supported on one end of said armature, resilient meansinterposed between said flanged portion and said mass for biasing saidmass into engagement with said armature, and a receptacle containing abody of liquid received within said opening and supported upon said masswhereby oscillatory movements of the armature are transmitted by saidmass to said body of liquid.

3. in a device for mixing liquids, a base having a substantiallyhorizontal surface, a solenoid supported on said base and comprising acoil and an armature, a plate sub- 01 the like,

stantially flush with said horizontal base surface and conneeted to oneend of said armature, a receptacle resiliently supported above saidhorizontal base surface, said receptacle and base defining between thema chamber filled with fluid whereby oscillatory movements of saidarmature and plate are transmitted to said receptacle through saidfluid.

4. In a device for mixing liquids as claimed in claim 3 and said fluidbeing incompressible.

5. In a device for mixing liquids as claimed in claim 3 and said fluidcomprising a gas.

6. In a device for mixing liquids, a receptacle containing a body ofliquid, a base for resiliently supporting said receptacle, there being aclosed chamber defined between said receptacle and said base, a solenoidmounted in said base and comprising a coil and a core armature, meansengaging one end of said armature and forming a wall of said chamber,the axis of movement of said armature being in the direction of saidbody of liquid, and a gaseous medium contained in said chamber wherebyoscillatory movement of said armature and said means are transmittedthereby to said resiliently supported receptacle.

7. In a device for mixing liquids, a receptacle containing a body ofliquid, a base for resiliently supporting said receptacle, there being aclosed chamber defined between said receptacle and said base, a solenoidmounted in said base and comprising a coil and a core armature, meansengaging one end of said armature and forming a wall of said chamber,the axis of movement of said armature be ing in the direction of saidbody of liquid, a gaseous medium contained in said chamber wherebyoscillatory movement of said armature and said means are transmittedthereby to said resiliently supported receptacle, and a source ofhigh-frequency alternating current for energizing said solenoid coil toimpart vibratory movement to said armature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,318,740 Fessenden Oct. 14, 1919 1,756,325 Williams Apr. 29, 19301,757,803 Jones May 3, 1930 1,768,718 Soderberg July 1, 1930 2,118,732Kruger May 24, 1938 2,198,637 Smith Apr. 30, 1940 2,498,990 FryklundFeb. 28, 1950 2,513,577 Malme July 4, 1950 2,620,894 Peterson et al.Dec. 9, 1952

